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Serving God & Country....Defending Faith & Freedom An Outreach of What's Right What's Left Ministry |
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THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER September 13, 1812 During the War of 1812, American William Beanes was captured by the British and held prisoner on a warship on the Chesapeake Bay. President James Madison gave Francis Scott Key and John S. Skinner permission to board and negotiate for release. Meanwhile, this same British fleet was preparing to attack Fort McHenry in Baltimore. Fearing that the American negotiators would alert the fort of the attack, the British transferred them, and Beanes, to another ship and held them prisoner until the battle was over. From this ship, at the rear of the fleet, Key and Skinner witnessed the explosive shelling of the inadequately manned fort. All day, and through the night of September 13, the American prisoners watched in breathless suspense as cannon fire and smoke often completely obscured Fort McHenry. But as dawn broke, the smoke cleared to reveal the American flag still waving over the bravely defended fort. Out of this great climax of emotion, Key produced this poem to record the experience. The day after Key was released "The Star-Spangled Banner" was distributed throughout Baltimore on leaflets. A week later, actor Ferdinand Durang sang the poem to the tune of an old English folk song "To Anacreon in Heaven, " by John Stafford Smith. This was the first public performance of the song. The Star-Spangled Banner quickly became one of the most popular and beloved songs in the nation. It was sung at public events, in churches, military ceremonies, and during the Battle of New Orleans. Reflecting what was already in the hearts of Americans, the United States Congress officially named The Star-Spangled Banner our national anthem in 1931.
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the
deep, And where is that band who so vauntingly swore O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand
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